New Delhi, December 06: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that his visit to Moscow beginning on Sunday will be “another step forward” in consolidating India’s cooperation with Russia and in reinforcing the fact that the India-Russia strategic partnership is a “factor of peace and stability in the evolving international situation.”
On his sixth visit to Russia, the Prime Minister in his pre-departure statement noted that the Indo-Russian partnership was based on the “solid foundation” of long-standing friendship, deep mutual trust and strong convergence of interests. Over the years, India’s multifaceted cooperation with Russia had acquired greater depth and maturity through joint efforts. “We seek to strengthen these ties further,” Dr. Singh said.
The Prime Minister will be in Moscow for the annual summit, a key mechanism for the advancement of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
At the summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Dr. Singh expects to review the status of bilateral cooperation, including in the key areas of defence, civil nuclear energy, space, science and technology and hydrocarbons. “I will also exchange views with the President on key regional and global issues such as terrorism, recovery of the global economy, energy security, climate change, nuclear disarmament and reform of international institutions,” he said.
To meet Putin
During the visit, Dr. Singh will also meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, under whose Presidency the two countries had established the strategic partnership in 2000. Mr. Putin and Dr. Singh will jointly attend the closing ceremony of the Year of India in Russia.
—Agencies